New-York tribune., 1887-11-23
ENGLEWOOD'S HEAVY LOSS.
ITS PRINCIPAL PUBLIC BUILDING GONE.
A MysrrRIoUs FIRE DESTROYS THE ATHENKUM-

MYSTERIOUS FIRE DESTROYS THE ATHENAUN-
NEARLY OVERCOME BY THE SMOKE.
The Enge wood, n. j., Athen9um owned by George g.
Coe. president of the American Exchange National
Bank and occupied by number Of stores and Offices In
addition to a large hall, burned early yesterday
involving probable loss of 100000 The fire originated
in a room used Dy Casss Brass Band OF the second
foor but there is not even probable theory as to the
cause 1t discovered about a. III. by night
watchman, Frank Henresi, who woke Robert Magncr,
who had charge of the building and slept in the back
part of his store the first floor and then gave an
alarm. Members OF the Protection Society and other
citizens were quickly on hand and did everything that
they could to check the flames, but with little effect
and in few hours nothing but the walls remained
etanding.
The AthenTum stood at Palsade ave. and Engie-s''
II twas built OF brick. four stories high in front TN te
Erst floor the posofce and the stores OF hrs I"
W. Chamber ain dealer in dry goods; Robert Masner'
confectoner; and NJ T. Springer, hardware on '"o
second floor the Office of the Englewood sewer 'o"
pany formerly occupied by the North River CONSTRUCTION
Company the of the brass band and some vacant
rooms Separated from these by narrow passage was
the hall capable OF seating about 800 people The
third and fourth the front Of the building were
occupied by,X W. Smiths private school for boys.
LOSSES AND INsURANCES.
The losses on and furnishings are estimated as
follows: Mrs c. W. Chamberlain. $4,000. insured in
the LIVERPOOL and London and Globe Insurance Com
papy for 81 OOO aud in the Commercial Union OF Liver
pool for $1,000; NJ f. Springer, Sloooo' Insured ior
Sc 200 in the German American, the Westchester AMI
the Continental companeso Ncw-fork and the COM
mercial Unou OF Lverpool; Robert Magner, S2ooo no
Insurance.; W. W. Smith, $500. insured for $4oo IN tne
IIverpool and London ana Globe COmpany postoilce,
S4OO insured for $3.50; Casss Brass Band $50 no
Insurance NJ f. springer also lost $40 without insur
ance on chairs in the hail. and there was piano IN the
hall belonging to Q. A. Blythe, valued at $50" ana
insured for $3.50 maker OF extracts named Edtehi
1na M. mi a Is without
There are various estimates OF the value OF the build
ing itself and statements Of the probable loss to the
owner vary from $4,000 to 100000 1t was Insured
for 500 900 in four NewYOrk companies IL was Dnt In
1870 10y company and cost including the lot from
500 900 to $4,000; it was mortgaged to the Mutual
Life Insurance Company for $4,000, and was sold to
Mr. Coe by Clat company for $4,000. small bnildDg
adjoining the Athen9um In Pahsade-dve was also de'
stroyed. II occupied by Mnnroe Matson' dealer
in and seeds and his loss Is about SlOo without
insurance. The building nearest the Atheenum on
Enge-st OF wood; the upper part was occupied "a
dwelling families and the lower part by Thomas
Russell. shoe dealer, and George Oster, an up
holsterer. his building saved after much har1
work.
Robert Magner. who had opportunity to see more
of the FIRE than anybody else told this story 10 re-
porter last evening can't think Of any way that the
fire could have started; the band practised I'LL about
half-past &c. and the said they smeled smoke pe
fore they away and tried to find out where came
from Inn did There had Deen some DoNrS
of sawdust used for spitoons Ill ne rOo Dut tue 'c.
thought there danger from throwing !iehied 'lstr,
into them and they had all been taken out. There vas
a stove in the room, hut the leaucr MI 'ass t"sd me
there very little fire ID It, have always sltpl III
the buildns since have al charge of it, and at ah"
o'clock this morning the watchman. Mr. Heurc"l woke
ne up aud said there funny KIND or ll5h Ill the
band-rO0m.
SENDING OUT TIE ALARM.
As soon as we got upstairs said: We can't 10
ANYTHING here Frank: 60 aud give alarm He went
away and then remembered tub OF water the next
room | pushed it out, and then as pushed open the
door of the la get in there great pun OF
smoke ana hot ar, and felt though was struck IL
sent me backward the passage and against the
door of the hall. which opened and gave draught
straight through. Then I could do nothing and
tried 10 get II dark and In making my way 10
the front stairs fell and struck on my back on the
stairs IL seemed some one had shaken me mp ana
I fet sick for long time rolled the Test of the way
down stairs but the door blew shrt ami nanny
strencth To open it, | crawei back up the stars
through the smoke into the hall and down TO ihe DdcK
door.
good many men had come by that time, and told
thc, ice mallet 20 break IN the doors
They workel hard TO save the property, and never
,.IoMt work better. II was about O'CLOCK o"fofe
ey had under control. There are three safes
the North Construction Company ana pr
eur Mr.. Maguer il highly esteemed at Ensie-
wood and several citizens have generously given MN
sa,ns toward making up his loss 80 ,,,.,
Mr. Coe said yesterday tina; he did not think the
Athenaum could be rebuilt it was for less than
$50 OO or SGOOOO He had not foru ell DEFINITE plans
but thought II likely that he would build some sort oi
hall for the people Of the village.